what is the top rate of pay for an RN in the states?

That Guy, BSN, RN, EMT-B · Aug 11, 2011

i got a job offer at a hospital in Rhode Island for $60/hour.
Nurses in my area make about 25-40/hour. More experience=more pay.
Cost of living here is next to nothing. My fiance and i just purchased a 4 year old, 5 bedroom house, 2 acres, fenced in yard, 3 car garage, pool for about 120,000. The apartment we rented prior, was in a building 5 years old, 3 bedroom, yard, 2 car garage, dogs/cats allowed with monthly payments,great neighborhood, LOTS of space for $500/month. This included water/trash removal. We only had to pay cable/internet and electricity.
When my fiance was in college, we did a long distance relationship and he was living out west where he had to pay $1,500/month for rent.

Im Moving to rhode island! I live in BFE Kansas and that house you described would still cost 300k easy and we only get 20 starting out here.

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2011

i've got a friend who charges $275/hour and gets every dime of it. she's a business owner and educator in a specialty nursing field.

johwiklundRN · Aug 12, 2011

But then you have to put into perspective the colleges in San Francisco. SF State is very expenive as is St. Mary's. UC Berkeley is not exactly cheap either but Berkeley does have many apartments to accomondate students which some of us who have had our college life in the past would not choose to live in. These are not your typical state universities. Many of the students are from other countries with a significant financial aide incentive along with high income families. Some are on scholarships. Some are head over heels in debt. Some drive cars which cost more than my first house. Those that go to city college where tuition is unbelievably cheap are probably living at home or from one of the lower income neighborhoods. San Francisco also has a few areas which are extremely poor, near toxic waste and plagued with violence. And even there it might be difficult to find a reasonable apartment when adjusted to income.
But yes it is possible to live in the city if you can get by with a small apartment and a bus pass. You also must remember the health insurance issues this city has with employers and those who work for small businesses. There are still a few rent controlled apartments like NYC has which some of the more fortunate might have. But, I can also tell you about living conditions in some neighborhoods like China Town or the Mission which the regular tourist will never see. There are some who think nothing of existing in a small "apartment" with several people and one community bathroom on the floor for 6 - 10 apartments. Overall they are happy just to be where they are if they are with family or when they have no family but lots of friends sharing a building. But, these areas do not get as noticed as Bayview - Hunters Point which is also known as the "invisible majority".
SF has its share of random violent crime especially if you have to use MUNI. But, it is nothing like Oakland which just had a 3 year old gunned down. A lot of this has been happening lately. The gang members seem to be very unskilled with the use of a gun or very near-sighted when it comes to identifying their intended target. After awhile you get tired of hearing "mistaken identity" as if that is an excuse for killing someone.
For an $8000 gross, You'll probably take home $5000 depending on how much you are paying for insurance and withholding. State income tax is a bear here and the state is still broke. A two bedroom apartment will average $1800 -2400. ($3000 - 3500 if buying) Most places don't include electric, gas, water, sewer and trash collection. A car with insurance, $500. Parking $300 extra for rent and $250 at work. Sales tax was 9.5% and dropped to 8.5% but will rise again later this year. Vehicle registration is around $250/yr plus smog checks. Everything can be adjusted proportionately with a lower income and a lower cost of living area. Just 75 miles east the wages are half of what is made in SF with a lower cost of living.

LOL THIS DUDE EITHER JUST DOESNT READ OR HE HAD SOME MAJOR ANTICALIFORNIA AGENDA... SO LETS SLOW THIS DOWN.... Y E S S O M E C O S T O F L I V I N G I S V A R I A B L E! ( LOL this is getting hard) and major lol @ at the "random acts of violence" which is just ignorant and propaganda. I mean dont get me worng, people get shot in the city, and people end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.... but it is usually very avoidable... most of the victims of these "random acts of violence" arnt really all that innocent if you know what I mean.... Lived in deep West Oakland for 2 years without a car, walked everywhere, even at night and nobody ever bothered me.... my girlfriend lived the same way. People that just dont live there dont understand, they hear the news and get scared.... what they dont tell you when you hear that 300 people were murdered in Oakland is that 295 of them were probably not innocent people making an honest living :rolleyes:

Y E S E V E R Y O N E P A Y S T A X E S!!!!! some people pay a little... some people a lot, has a lot to do with your personal situation and not too much with what city you live in...

Y E S S O M E P E O P L E O W N C A R S !!!!! and then there are certain costs that come with that..... .... and yes some people commute and there are costs involved with that..... But some people dont need to drive at all, and that can be cool..... This doesnt have to be a cost that is specific to living in SF or any city.... AND FYI, the MISSION was dangerous like 30 years AGO, It has been gentrified after the tech boom, and now a bunch of yuppies and hipsters live there:rolleyes:

Y E S S O M E P E O P L E L I V E I N P O V E R T Y...... this is sad, and creates certain socio economic isssues, but guess how many people living in or near the projects of "the point" or the tenderloin are Registered Nurses...... 0... or if they do... its entirely by choice...... despite what this dude is proclaiming... a RN could afford to rent a suitable place in almost whatever neighbor hood they choose.... the place will probably be smaller than what the same amount of money could get you in the burbs... or texas... or lots of places for that matter... but compare it to other major modern cities.... NYC, BOSTON, SEATTLE, TORONTO.... ect AND FYI, the MISSION was dangerous like 30 years AGO, It has been gentrified after the tech boom, and now a bunch of yuppies and hipsters live there:rolleyes:

BOTTOM LINE ... THE POINT OF THIS THREAD IS WHERE CAN YOU MAKE THE MOST MONEY AS A NURSE?.... THE BAY FREAKIN AREA. FOR REAL. NOT THERES NOT EXCEPTIONS, NOT THAT ONE DUDE IN ARIZONAZ ISNT MAKING A ZILLION DOLLARS.... NOT THAT YOU CAN BUY A HOUSE IN MISSISSIPPI FOR A SANDWICH... MOST PEOPLE NURSES IN GENERAL.

PSS IF YOU TALKING ABSOLUTE TOP DOLLAR, LOOK INTO WORKIN AT SAN QUINTIN WHICH IS ALSO IN NORTH BAY AREA:eek:

diva rn, BSN, RN · Aug 12, 2011

The big question is....drumroll...are there any jobs in the Bay area??? All that talk of big bucks is great but any openings, real openings, not just postings on Craigs list or websites that the hospitals all do...I am just curious, I'm not moving.

GreyGull · Aug 12, 2011

LOL THIS DUDE EITHER JUST DOESNT READ OR HE HAD SOME MAJOR ANTICALIFORNIA AGENDA... SO LETS SLOW THIS DOWN.... Y E S S O M E C O S T O F L I V I N G I S V A R I A B L E! (

If you knock off the caps and space your words they might be readable.

SOME OF US ARE NOT DUDES!

I guess you don't live in the city of SF or have ever lived here, don't take mass transit on a regular basis , have never witnessed any violence, been caught in a riot or work in an ED.

I would like to see the Mission change but from 16th to 28th surrounding Mission Street, it has not. You don't have to be a native to know that. But you should have a good instinct to move quickly when the bullets start flying.

I don't have to go to SAN QUINTIN, the prisoners come to us.

Those working for Prison Health are not that well paid.

It would be very irresponsible and plain stupid not to warn those new to an area how to safely navigate the mass transit stops and the city. A little caution can be a good thing. Professional looking people are often great targets.

Sorry you think a child of 3 getting shot and killed as a cool everyday thing for some not to worry about because he probably wasn't an innocent person.

The point is also, the most money might come with sacrifices.

San Francisco is my home and I love it for the good and the bad.

johwiklundRN · Aug 12, 2011

And no the wages are not half 75 miles inland.... Most northern california hospitals, are unionized by cna the largest nursing union in the country ( headquartered in oakland)... And in addition to making california the only state with mandated nurse to patient ratios in hospitals... They also negotiate top dollar for their nurses whether in sf or vallejo or sacramento, or chico.... Rural ass northern ca where i live now. Infact, if you work for kaiser (the largest hmo in the country, which also started in the bayarea) you get paid the same whether you work in sf or sacramento, kaiser did it to reduce traffic and commuting....

I dont know where this guy is getting his info but he obviously doesnt know a damn thing about california. I have liveed in ca my entire life... And my parents worked as nurses in the bay area for their entire lives.... Its a fine place to live, and a great place to practice nursing

johwiklundRN · Aug 12, 2011

LOL... you were obviously able to read my post if your able to criticize it, meanie:cool: ... and yes I lived in the Richmond, and worked days in SOMA and nights in the Mission. I took the 38 express bus down Geary, and took BART every day... I also walked my broke 22 year old 130lb butt all over Oakland, and SF.... nothing bad ever happened to me.... If you never lived in a big city before, I suspose certain common sense and precautions should be warented....

Violence happens every where.... its a tragity every time:crying2: .... not specific to SF or Oakland though...

everything good in life comes with sacrifice, if you cant take the heat get out of the fire...

GreyGull · Aug 12, 2011

The big question is....drumroll...are there any jobs in the Bay area??? All that talk of big bucks is great but any openings, real openings, not just postings on Craigs list or websites that the hospitals all do...I am just curious, I'm not moving.

There are a few but right now, not for new grads. But there are tons of applications with several being from out of the area (state) trying to get to where the big wages are. A couple of hospitals still have travelers.

GreyGull · Aug 12, 2011

I also walked my broke 22 year old 130lb butt all over Oakland, and SF...

I guessed your age at 18.

Enjoy being invincible. Don't abuse your body too much and keep your organ donor status current with the DMV.

johwiklundRN · Aug 12, 2011

I guess your age at about 48... and you better get back to Tibourn or Walnut Creek, because its starting to get dark out.... :eek: enjoy living in fear!

GreyGull · Aug 12, 2011

I guess your age at about 48... and you better get back to Tibourn or Walnut Creek, because its starting to get dark out.... enjoy living in fear!

48?

I don't live in fear but I don't invite danger into my life unnecessarily. It seems you have not learned the difference yet.

However, Tibourn and Walnut Creek are nice areas to consider. If I were to move either would be a nice option.

A few facts of life for you. When you have a family to raise you look for security and safety. That includes your neighborhood and job. You look for a good place for your kids to get an education without carrying a weapon to school. You may not find all of these things but you do not want to intentionally put your family or yourself in danger. You may not have worked to where you noticed a mother cry for your young son killed by the stupidity of the streets and hear her words of wishing she could have moved away or have provided more for her kids. Some parents don't care. But some do. I sincerely hope you won't force your wife, girlfriend or children to throw caution to the wind just because you do. A parent should not have to bury their children. If you are working in some aspect of health care, you may have the opportunity to understand all of this someday.

You also don't want to be cocky and ignorant of a situation to where you get your co-workers injured.

Be safe and not stupid. You might live as long as I have and enjoy a long great career with a healthy and financially stable retirement.

johwiklundRN · Aug 12, 2011

I do actually have a family to raise.

and I suppose that it is very difficult for you to imagine that anybody would ever want to live their life differently than you... and yes if you wont take the bus at night because you're afraid of "random violence" you do live in fear.... and it is that exact fear that would make you a target for violence. I choose to raise my family to appreciate and respect diversity, in all its forms. You Pre-judge an entire urban population. IE just cause you grow up in Oakland or SF doesnt mean you carry a gun to school ... And it is this prejudice that perpetuates the fear that has so obviously influenced you. You and I are just different kinds of people... Luckily in SF there are many different kinds of people, and one learns to coexist.... As hard as this may be for you to understand, this is not a bad thing... nor is it unsafe... it is just obviously different than you are used to...where as in Walnut Creek... one would experience much less diversity of race, socio-economic status, gender, political... ect...

Life is about choices and you are letting you fear and prejudice make yours for you.

I hope when I am your age, I am not so closed minded, and scared of the world, for my children's sake.

This is getting wayyyyyy to personal for a professional nursing website. So if you need to get the last word... its yours for the taking.

Sorry for contributing to making this thread so off topic:down: